Fire service plan moving along

Website due after final interviews

December 9, 2013

While the go-live date for the Warren County Fire Services Committee's public information project has been pushed back a month, the project continues to move ahead.

Fire Services Committee Chairman Paul Pascuzzi updated the Warren County Council of Governments during the COG's Wednesday night meeting.

The internet/intranet project will provide a web presence for the county's fire departments and is intended to be a forum to provide information and enhance recruitment efforts.

Article Photos

Times Observer photo by Josh CottonRecognizedWarren County Council of Governments Facilitator John Zavinski presents a certificate of recognition to outgoing Sugar Grove Mayor Dutch Strand for his service to the COG during his term in office.

Pascuzzi said that "the team is going to be wrapping up the interviews of the last five fire companies, getting their information." He said that a draft design of the site has been approved and the framework will be built shortly.

With the go-live date pushed back to April 1, Pascuzzi said that during February and March training sessions will be held to "explain the website to the fire departments and then train them on how to update their own content. (The) actual building of their own website is their responsibility."

"It's supposed to be user friendly," he added.

Closer to kick off, Pascuzzi said the committee will be looking for ways to market the site.

"We're trying to think of ways to promote the website," he said. At the most recent committee meeting, he said they received some "really good feedback" in that regard.

Pa Futures' Alan Kugler, the COG's consultant, encouraged members of the COG to participate in committee meetings and become involved in the project.

"This is a COG-driven project," County Planner Dan Glotz said. "So we want as much COG participation as possible."

The project, which costs in the range of $80,000, has been funded by local community foundation, as well as state grant, funding.

Also during Wednesday's meeting, the COG recognized outgoing Sugar Grove Borough Mayor Dutch Strand for his work with COG during his tenure in office. In presenting a plaque to Strand as a certificate of appreciation, COG Facilitator John Zavinski noted that Strand has been at about every meeting.